MERRITT — New Bern native Eugene Setzer, a member of the U.S. Coast Guard, is understandably proud of his late father Leavitte’s military service, which included tours in Korea and Vietnam.

The ashes of his father are buried inside a rail-fence-lined family cemetery in the Pamlico County community of Merritt.

Guardsman Setzer said he was shocked, dismayed and outraged when he visited his father’s grave site shortly before Veterans Day and discovered thieves had stolen the bronze plaque given the family by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Leavitte Setzer died in late fall of 1997 after dealing with colon and liver cancer.

It was the only marker and now the site of the grave is bare except for leaves and some loose dirt where the plaque was ripped from the ground.

Pamlico County Sheriff Billy Sawyer said his department had received a report on the incident and investigated, including questioning neighbors, but have no real leads.

Sawyer said his department had investigated cases of cemetery vandalism in the past, but none involving the theft of a grave marker. He said anyone with information on the case should contact his office, 745-3101.

Eugene Setzer affirmed his thoughts on the matter, which he posted on his Facebook page in hope and getting leads about the theft.

“I guess joining the military on his 17th birthday, going straight to Korea, then two straight years in Vietnam, followed by over 20 years of military medical service was not a price paid enough for him,” he said of his father.

“Dying of cancer linked to the chemicals he was exposed to in the aforementioned duties wasn’t good enough either,” he added. “I guess he had to pay by having his last remaining mark on this planet desecrated by someone who should honestly not be afforded the freedoms this country has due to people like a veteran.”

Leavitte Setzer’s widow, Bridgette, was equally shocked by the nature of the theft.

“It sunk as low as a human being can get,” she said of the thief. “You just don’t steal that (grave marker). There is more emotional things connected to this than anything else.”

She doubts the bronze marker would be worth much to anyone, even for recycling.

Bridgette lives in New Bern and purchased the 27-acre farmland several years ago, with family plans to build retirement homes there for her and her son.

She said the family will install a new gravestone, adding it would be made of concrete.

“It is going to be such a heavy rock, it is going to be very hard to move,” she said.

Charlie Hall can be reached at 252-635-5667 or charlie.hall@newbernsj.com